2013년 11월 28일 목요일

About 'homestead home health care'|Health Care...or Smoke and Mirrors in the Halls of Congress...







About 'homestead home health care'|Health Care...or Smoke and Mirrors in the Halls of Congress...








Special               Thanks               to
"Anon"
with               www.whokilledtheresa.blogspot.com
for               transcribing               this               episode!

Aired               May               8th,               2007
               TODD:               I'm               Todd               Matthews.

This               is               Missing               Pieces.

Tonight               we               have               LaDonna               Meredith               with               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'.

Welcome               LaDonna.
               LADONNA:               Thank               you.
               TODD:               How               are               you               doing?
               LADONNA:               I'm               doing               well.

I'm               excited               to               be               a               part               of               this               tonight.
               TODD:               You're               my               guest               from               Arkansas,               my               neighboring               state.
               LADONNA:               Fayetteville,               Arkansas.
               TODD:               Fayetteville,               Arkansas...

big               town.
               LADONNA:               Well,               it's               growing,               it               is.

The               metro               area               of               northwest               Arkansas               is               fairly               large,               several               hundred               thousand               people,               so               it's               grown               tremendously               in               the               past               10               years.
               TODD:               Well,               there's               probably               not               that               many               people               in               my               entire               14-region               area,               I'm               going               to               tell               you,               so               it's               a               big               town               to               us.
               LADONNA:               Oh,               wow...

okay.
               TODD:               Now,               how               long               have               you               been               at               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'?

You've               got               an               organization...

how               long               has               this               been               in...?
               LADONNA:               We               do.

We               are               just               under...

formally               being               formed               as               an               organization...

we               are               almost               a               year               old...
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               ...however,               the               concept               of               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               is               almost               4               years               old.
               TODD:               Okay,               where               did               it               begin?
               LADONNA:               Well,               you               know,               it               began               very               simply,               and               I               like               to               tell               people               it               began               around               my               dining               room               table,               which               is               partially               true.

Everybody               that's               involved               in               this               organization               has               served,               in               one               capacity               or               another,               as               a               volunteer,               through               other               organizations               that               serve               the               families               of               missing               children               and               adults.
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               So               it               was               a               very               natural               thing               for               us               to               come               together               and               that's               really               what               happened.

We               saw               a               need,               not               that               needs               are               not               being               met,               but               this               was               something...

what               we               do               is               so               unique.

So               we               came               together               and               we               talked               about               what               we               wanted               to               contribute               and               how               we               could               supplement               what's               already               out               there,               and               that's               really               how               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               came               about.
               TODD:               You               know,               a               lot               of               organizations               are               that,               everybody's               got               their               own               reason               for               having               been               there               and               then               you               bring               these               to               another               organization,               you               find               a               niche,               like               with               the               Doe               Network,               we               found               a               niche...

there               was               a               need               and               we               tried               to               need               with               that.

You               have               to               do               something,               you               know,               when               you               see               a               need.

Okay,               I'm               seeing               that               you               are               also               involved               with               'Outpost               For               Hope'...
               LADONNA:               Yes,               I'm               excited               about               that.

That               is               a               project...I               met               Libba               Phillips...

just               through               the               course               of               the               past               year               of               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               and               contacts               that               I've               made               and               we               hoped               to               find               a               project               that               made               sense               for               both               of               us               and               she               approached               me               with               'The               Perception               Project'               and               I               was               just               on               board               with               it               almost               immediately.

I               took               it               to               my               board               of               directors               and               we               have               just               embraced               it.

It's               a               very               important               project,               I               think               for,               you               know,               not               just               people               like               you               and               I               who               are               already               involved               in               this               world               of               missing               adults               and               children,               but               for               the               nation               and               the               world               as               a               whole               so               they               could               grab               the               concept               of               what               the               word               'lost'               means.

The               definition               is               so               broad               and               if               we               can               bring               light               on               a               broader               scope               to               this               social               epidemic,               with               'The               Perception               Project',               I               think               that               at               the               end               of               the               day,               we'll               feel               really               good               about               what               we've               done.

So               we're               really               excited               about               the               project.
               TODD:               Well,               you've               got               a               good               partner               with               Libba,               I've               known               her               for               a               long               time.

She's               an               old               friend               of               mine               and               I'm               glad               to               get               to               mention               her               because               I'm               hoping               to               have               her               for               an               upcoming               guest.
               LADONNA:               Oh,               she'd               be               great.
               TODD:               Oh               yeah.

She's               really               good...

she's               a               good               public               speaker.
               LADONNA:               She               is               and               Libba               and               I               just               clicked               on               a               professional               level               and               on               a               friendship               level               so               I'm               excited.

You               know               she's               been               able               to               educate               me               on               some               thing               that               I               had               no               idea               about               and               I               think,               in               turn,               I'm               gong               to               be               able               to               do               the               same               thing               for               her               and               that's               what               a               good               collaboration               is               all               about               and,               you               know,               that's               what               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               is               all               about.

We               want               to               collaborate               and               work               with               organizations               and               families               and               people               all               across               the               United               States               and               the               world.

You               know,               to               supplement               what's               already               being               done...

there's               a               lot               of               organizations               that,               for               years,               they've               just               been               doing               terrific               work.
               TODD:               I'm               seeing               a               lot               of               familiar               faces               on               your               website.

April               Beth               Pitzer               (case               featured               in               Episode               14)               ,               I               know               her...

so               I'm               seeing               a               lot               of               people               that               I've               kind               of               run               into               before...

their               families,               some               former               guests,               it's               really               encouraging               to               see               them               here.

You               can't               do               too               much...

there's               no               way               to               have               them               overexposed.
               LADONNA:               You               know,               I               agree               with               that               concept               exactly.

There               is               no               way               that               any               case               can               get               too               much               exposure               and               one               of               the               things               that               we               do               is,               we               limit               that               cases               that               we               do               take,               not               that               we've               turned               anybody               away,               not               that               we               would,               but               starting               off               as               a               fledgling               organization,               we're               really               trying               to               take               it               slow               and               make               sure               that               we're               dedicating               the               time               and               resources               that               we               have               as               a               new               organization,               to               the               cases               that               we               take               on.

Our               primary               case               right               now               has               been,               well               there               have               been               three,               it's               the               cases               of               Kent               Jacobs               and               then               Maura               Murray               and               April               Beth               Pitzer.
               TODD:               So               we               can               talk               about               Kent               tonight,               right?
               LADONNA:               Absolutely!
               TODD:               Now,               he's               from               Cumberland               County               (North               Carolina)?
               LADONNA:               Yes,               Kent               went               missing               Sunday,               March               10th,               2002               from               Cumberland               County,               North               Carolina...
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               He               was               a               special-needs               adult.

He               has               the               mentality               of               about               a               9-year-old...

could               not               sense               danger,               which               is               what               happens               in               a               lot               of               cases               with               special-needs               adults               and               pretty               much               there               has               been               some               phenomenal               work               from               a               lot               of               organizations               to               help               recover               Kent,               but               it's               just,               you               know,               they               continue               to               hit               dead               ends.

So,               we               met               the               Jacobs               family               about               a               year               ago               and               corresponded               with               them               through               the               telephone               and               through               email               for               a               year               and               then               I               actually               flew               to               North               Carolina,               this               past               year,               for               his               5-year               remembrance               ceremony.
               TODD:               Now,               aside               from               that,               what               can               your               organization               do?

You               are               in               Arkansas...

I               think               most               of               your               members               are               in               Arkansas,               right,               or               are               they               spread               out               a               little               bit?
               LADONNA:               Most               of               everybody               that               we               have               that               is               actively               involved               and               is               on               staff               here...

they               are               from               right               here               in               Arkansas.

We               hope               to               change               that               eventually               but               we're               taking               in               slow.
               TODD:               But               right               now               you               can               gather               round               a               table,               and               sometimes,               that's               an               advantage               some               times...

it               really               is,               because               a               lot               of               times               I               deal               with               people               just               on               email               and,               you               know,               you               can               reach               across               the               world               with               email               but               sometimes               there's               nothing               like               that               voice               or               looking               across               the               table               at               somebody.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely,               and               that's               one               of               the               things               that's               been               very               important               to               what               we               do,               simply               because               we               are               so               involved               with               this               PR               end               of               these               cases,               to               have               our               team               right               here               where               we               can               sit               down               and               brainstorm               together.

So               that's,               for               now,               that's               very               crucial               and               it's               a               benefit.
               TODD:               Okay,               now               I               have               to               ask               you...

I'm               going               to               ask               you               some               questions               and               sometimes               they               might               be               a               little               difficult               but               people               don't               know...

what               can               you               do               in               Arkansas               to               help               a               case               like               Kent               Jacobs,               you               know,               two               states               away?

How               do               you               approach               that?

How               would               you               start               working               on               that               particular               case?
               LADONNA:               You               know,               we               do               get               asked               that               a               lot.

You               know,               how               can               we               help               a               family               if               we're               in               one               state               and               they're               in               another               and               here               is               the               bottom               line               of               what               we               can               do...

we               offer               resources               and               solutions               and               assistance               and               support...and               we               do               that               in               the               form               of               several               different               things.

One               is               case               management,               that's               a               lot               of               hands               on,               day-to-day               interaction               with               the               families               and,               in               my               experience,               that's               50%               of               the               battle,               with               those               families.

They               need               to               know               that               are               organizations               and               people               working               on               their               behalf               and               that               care               outside               of               the               immediate               family               and               law               enforcement.

As               far               as               our               organization               is               concerned,               and               I               can               give               you               good               example               with               Kent               Jacobs,               we               have               flown               to               North               Carolina,               we               act               as               a               liaison               for               the               family               between               the               media,               and               I               can               do               that               being               in               North               Carolina               or               sitting               here               in               my               office               in               Arkansas.

Now               that's               a               matter               of               handling               all               the               PR               through               email               or               telephone.

Then,               also,               what               we've               done,               we               create               postcards,               we               offer               rewards               and               we               have               an               800               number,               that               is               a               free,               no-cost               tip               line               that               we               offer               for               our               cases               and               that               has               proven               to               be               very,               very               successful               to               date.
               TODD:               Do               you               want               to               give               the               number               right               now?
               LADONNA:               Yes,               I               would               love               to.

It               is               1-866-479-LBTH               (5284),               and               that's               the               letters               for               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'.
               TODD:               Very               good.

Now,               I'm               seeing               that               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               has               offered               an               additional               reward               fund               in               the               Kent               Jacobs's               case               for               $150,000               and               that               is               specifically               for               a               certain               time               period...March               10th               through               June               10th,               2007.
               LADONNA:               It               is.

We               put               a               lot               of               thought               into               that               and               that's               one               of               the               things               that               we               do               for               the               families               for               these               cases               that               we               take               on.

We               sit               down               and               we               strategically               plan               what               would               be               most               beneficial               for               each               and               every               case               because               every               case,               as               you               know               Todd,               is               different.
               TODD:               (agrees)
               LADONNA:               And               in               Kent's               case,               we               fully               believe               that               this               could               end               tomorrow               for               the               Jacobs               family.

There               is               somebody               there               in               the               Cumberland               County               area               that               has               the               answer,               and               we               sat               down               and               we               decided               that               the               best               thing               that               can               happen,               after               talking               with               law               enforcement,               obviously,               and               with               the               family,               was               to               offer               a               large               reward.
               TODD:               Now,               this               reward,               I'm               thinking               that               the               reason               that               you               have               this               time               period,               it's               to               create               a               sense               of               urgency.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely!

It's               been               5               years...

it's               been               5               years               too               long               and               we               want               people               to               understand               that               this               reward               is               for               a               short               amount               of               time,               they               need               to               take               it               seriously,               because               it               will               go               away.

It's               going               to               go               away               in               June,               and               so               we               know               that               people               are               motivated               by               2               things               Todd,               they're               motivated               by               money               or               they're               motivated               my               conscience,               and               what               we're               trying               to               hit               right               now               is               a               select               group               of               people               that               we               know               has               the               answer               in               Kent's               disappearance,               because               we               know               that               they               are               motivated               my               money.

So               that               was               the               thought               process               behind               this               reward.

When               we               offered               the               reward,               we               did               not               realize               that               it               was               one               of               the               largest               rewards               that               had               ever               been               offered               in               that               state.

That               was               a               sort               of               a               plus               for               me               to               realize,               it               truly               was               and               we               had               a               donor               step               forward               that               offered               it               for               a               3-month               period               and               we               just               kind               of               sat               back               and               some               of               the               leads               have               been               coming               in               that               we               hoped               for               and,               you               know,               we               hope               that               some               more               things               will               happen               between               now               and               that               June               10th               at               midnight               mark.
               TODD:               So,               if               I'm               sitting               on               a               tip               and               I'm               thinking               about               just               hanging               on               to               it               for               a               little               while               longer,               maybe               waiting               for               a               raise               in               the               reward,               I'm               seeing               this               reward               that's               actually               going               to               vanish               on               midnight               of               June               10th               and               I'm               thinking,               hmmm,               and               everyday               that               passes,               a               little               more               of               an               urgency               that               comes               over               me.

I               need               to               claim               this               if               I'm               going               to               claim               it.
               LADONNA:               Exactly               and               we               also               hope               that               it               will               do               something               else.

We               also               believe               fully               that               there               are               people               that               know               the               people               who               know               something               or               who               were               involved               in               Kent's               disappearance               and               we               want               pressure               to               be               put               on               the               right               people               who               know               something               and               $150,000,               well               that's               a               lot               of               reasons               to               come               forward               or               to               come               tell               what               you               know.

And               so               we               hope               that               it               would               motivate               somebody               and               then               put               pressure               on               the               people               who               were               responsible               for               Kent's               disappearance.
               TODD:               Are               you               involved               in               the               'Safety               Matters'               program               with               Kent               Jacobs?
               LADONNA:               I               am               and               I               am               so               excited               about               this               project.
               TODD:               Okay.
               LADONNA:               That's               another               thing               that               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               does.
               TODD:               Tell               me               about               being               responsible...

Number               One...
               LADONNA:               Well,               the               safety               tips,               just               so               we               can               backtrack               a               little               bit,               are               geared               fort               special-needs               adults               and               children.
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               And               the               program,               in               and               of               itself,               is               to               be               taught               by               caregivers               or               organizations               that               serve               mentally-disabled               adults               and               children.

So               the               program               is               not               necessarily               just               about               being               safe               from               abduction               but               it's               being               safe               in               general.

The               point               number               one,               of               being               responsible,               is               just               to               remind               these               adults               and               children               to               always               check               in               with               their               guardian               before               they               go               anywhere               or               do               anything...

they               need               to               check               in               regularly.
               TODD:               Basically               trust               their               guardians.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely.
               TODD:               And               the               'Don't               be               tricked'.

And               you               know,               I               think,               special-needs               adults,               we've               encountered               this               several               times               with               missing               persons               cases...

it               happens               a               lot               more               often               than               people               might               think               with               special-needs               adults,               so               it's               real               important               that               people               understand               this.

Don't               be               tricked,               lured               in,               accept               treat,               rides...
               LADONNA:               And,               you               know,               never               accept               anything               from               anyone               without               their               parents'               or               guardian's               permission.

That's               just               key.

You               know,               another               point               about               this               program,               is               this               Todd,               it's               that               the               educators               or               the               adults               or               the               caregiver               or               the               guardian               is               responsible               for               conveying               this               curriculum               to               the               students.

It's               also               educating               themselves               on               some               points               that,               perhaps,               they               didn't               know               before.
               TODD:               And               it               puts               them               in               sync               too,               so               they               know               what               each               other,               they               know               what               everybody's               check               points               are               because               I               know               that               when               I'm               concerned               about               something               with               my               child,               we               might               not               necessarily               be               concerned               about               the               things.

You               know,               he's               got               his               own               little               world               and               I've               got               mine.

I've               got               a               15-year-old               and               a               5-year-old               and               they've               got               different               minds...

they               have               completely...
               LADONNA:               Absolutely               they               do               and,               you               know,               we're               fully               aware               that               these               points               will               not               be               grasped               in               full,               maybe               not               every               point,               by               the               students,               the               adults               or               the               child               but               if               they               pick               up               one               or               two               of               these               and               the               guardian               or               caregiver               is               educated               then               this               program               has               done               its               job.

And               the               exciting               thing               about               it               is,               there's               no               other               program               like               this               in               the               nation               and               we've               had               a               focus               group               of               mental-health               caregivers               overlook               the               program               and               then               we're               meeting               people               from               across               the               nation               who               are               taking               a               look               at               this               program               and               helping               us               continue               to               model               it               and               mould               it               into               something               that               can               be               used               in               classrooms               for               special-needs               adults               and               children               all               across               the               United               States.
               TODD:               Well,               I'm               talking               about               it               quite               a               bit               because               we               transcribe               the               shows,               I               think               most               of               our               guests               know,               they're               actually               transcribed               by               a               lot               of               our               volunteers,               actually               transcribe               these,               and               I               want               to               make               sure               that               these               8               points               get               embedded,               once               again,               in               that               text,               I               think               that               that's               a               really               good               thing.

Now,               you're               talking               about               'Be               interactive               with               your               caregiver',               'Wear               reflectors',               now               you               have               to               provide               those               for               them               before               they               can               make               sure               that               they               wear               them               with               their               protective               clothing.

'Be               smart               in               the               dark',               you've               got               some               really               good               points               here.
               LADONNA:               Right.

Number               3               was               'Stay               safe'.

There               are               some               situations               where               the               mentally               disadvantaged               or               disabled               person               is               able               to               have               the               capacity               to               actually               stay               at               home               alone               so               we're               just               reminding               them               to               keep               the               door               locked,               not               to               open               the               door               for               anyone               who               stops               by               unless               it               is               a               person               who's               trusted,               you               know,               a               family               friend               or               a               relative               or               if               there               is               a               list               that               has               already               been               provided               by               the               caregiver...

just               some               simple               things               to               keep               the               student               from               being               confused               or               uncomfortable               or               scared.
               TODD:               Well,               there's               room               for               a               little               customization,               you               know,               you               interpret               them               your               own               way               in               your               own               situation.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely               and               that's               so               important.

Number               4               is               'Don't               panic               if               you               feel               lost'.

You               know,               if               you               can               ahead               of               time,               identify               the               safest               place               to               find               help               for               somebody               that               is               out               in               public,               like               a               police               officer,               a               grocery               story               clerk               or               anyone               working               in               a               store               behind               the               counter               with               an               apron               or               a               badge...

you               have               prevented               so               many               issues               that               could               come               into               play.

Number               5               is               'Be               careful',               you               know,               stay               away               from               pools,               canals               and               other               bodies               of               water,               don't               play               near               the               street,               those               are               pretty               basic               tips               but               they're               important.

Number               6,               I               think               we               touched               on               that,               'Be               smart',               don't               wear               clothes               or               carry               items               with               your               name               on               the               outside.

One               of               the               things               that               we               were               very               clear               on               is               'Don't               be               confused               if               a               person               you               don't               know,               calls               out               your               name'.

We               actually               go               in               and               teach               this               curriculum               and               talk               to               organizations,               like               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               will               actually               facilitate               a               program               for               caregivers               so               they               can               implement               this               program.

What               we               tell               them               is               that,               it's               very               important               to               keep               the               special-needs               adult               or               child               on               track               and               to               tell               relatives               and               friends               and               loved-ones               not               to               get               them               off-course               if               they               see               them               out               in               public...

it               can               confuse               them               and               we               fully               believe               that               that               is               a               possibility               in               Kent               Jacobs's               case.
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               And               perhaps,               you               know,               if               they               had               had               a               program               like               this               in               the               beginning               that               we               wouldn't               be               where               we're               at               today               with               Kent's               case.

You               can't               say               that               100%               but               it               sure               would               be               nice               to               know               that               these               points               are               being               taught               in               classrooms               and               organizations.
               TODD:               Well,               if               there               had               been               a               guideline               for               somebody               to               follow,               you               know               you               might               have               had               some               better               idea               of               how               better               to               find               him,               you               know,               to               look               for               him,               where               to               go.
               LADONNA:               Right.
               TODD:               'Be               smart               in               the               dark'.

We've               covered               that               with               the               reflectors               and               try               not               to               play               outside               after               dark               and               'Don't               be               afraid'...

and               this               is               Number               8,               'Don't               be               afraid               to               say               "No"               and               get               away'.

Now,               that               happens.
               LADONNA:               It               does               happen               and               one               of               the               things               that               we               want               to               convey               that's               so               important,               is               to               empower,               you               know               you               don't               want               to               cripple               these               adults               and               kids               with               fear,               you               want               empower               them               to               make               good               decisions.

It's               empowering               to               say               "it's               alright               to               say               'no'               if               you               feel               scared,               uncomfortable               or               confused.

It's               okay               to               say               "no"               and               to               run               away.

It's               okay               and               you               know               that's               a               very               simple               tactic               and               you               know               I               taught               that               to               my               children               when               they               were               9               and               7,               so               that's               something               that               all               of               us               can               walk               away               from               and               use.
               TODD:               Okay,               I'm               going               to               solicit               you,               now               I'm               going               to               try               something.

My               mother-in-law               actually               works               in               a               special-needs               home               where               they               actually               live               in               their               own               home,               they're               adults               and               the               caregivers               are               there               24               hours               a               day               but               they               take               8-hour               shifts,               obviously,               and               of               course,               they               have               their               own               home,               their               own               rooms               and               everything...

they               actually               go               to               work               with               special-needs-oriented               jobs.

How               do               I               get               some               of               this               type               of               information               to               her?

Do               I               just               print               it               off               the               website               or               is               there               something               you               put               together?

It's               a               group               home.

I               think               there's               like               4               adults               there...

what               would               I               do?
               LADONNA:               Well,               there               are               2               different               things               that               you               can               do.

One,               is               that               if               you               visit               the               website               for               the               Safety               Matters               Program,               www.kentjacobs.com,               it's               his               namesake,               if               you               go               to               the               program               link;               there               is               a               place               that               you               can               actually               download               the               program               kit               free               of               charge.

It               is               completely               free,               it's               curriculum               ideas               and               caregivers               and               organizations               can               just               print               it               off.

And               then               we               have               contact               information               for               people               who               want               to               order               materials               or               request               training.

So               that's               what               we               do.

We               can               come               to               where               they               are               at,               if               they               request               us               to               come               to               fly               in               to               help               and               host               a               training               conference,               we               can               do               that.

So               everything               that               we               provide               with               this               program               is               completely               free,               so               we               don't               charge               for               travel,               we               don't               charge               the               materials               and               we               don't               charge               for               training,               so               it's               completely               free.

It's               just               a               click               away.

Just               download               it               or               give               us               a               call               and               we               can               help.
               TODD:               Okay,               so               now               I'm               downloading               the               program               now,               as               we               speak.

It's               a               PDF               file,               it's               really               simple               and               we               will               probably               have               this               in               place               by               the               weekend               at               the               group               home               where               my               mother-in-law               works.
               LADONNA:               That's               exciting               and...
               TODD:               So,               we've               already               got               something               going.

I               think               that's               good.
               LADONNA:               I               think               that's               great               and               this               program               also               is...

it's               evolving               a               bit               so               as               the               programs               continues               to...

you               know,               we're               going               to               include               some               more               worksheets,               some               more               interactive               information               and               some               more               guidelines               as               our               taskforce               evolves               and               we               will               continue               to               update               the               website               and               we'll               put...

it's               still               going               to               be               on               that               link,               it's               still               going               to               be               downloadable               in               the               PDF               format.

One               of               the               exciting               things               that               is               happening               with               this               program,               is               that               we               have               governors'               offices               all               across               the               United               States...

we               have               10               right               now,               that               are               embracing               this               program               and               we're               working               with               these               10               states,               11               states               to               help               implement               this               state               wide.

So               our               goal               is,               by               2009,               to               have               this               implemented               in               every               state.
               TODD:               That               would               be               great.
               LADONNA:               There's               no               reason               not               to,               it's               free.
               TODD:               People               can               go               to               your               website               at               http://www.letsbringthemhome.org/               and               your               800               number               again,               is               1-866-479-LBTH               (5284).
               LADONNA:               Yes.
               TODD:               And               I've               got               your               PDF               file               open               now               for               the               program...

this               looks               like               it's               going               to               be               great.

It's               just               perfect.

That's               going               to               be               really               good.
               LADONNA:               And               that's               one               of               the               things               that               we               do               with               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               Todd,               is               we               take               these               cases               on               an               individual               basis               and               we               ask,               strategically,               what               can               we               do               as               an               effort               to               prevent               something               that               happened               in               this               case,               from               ever               happening               again.

And               so               that's               what...

like               I               said,               every               case               is               different,               but               it               made               sense               with               Kent               Jacobs's               case               to               do               something               that               would               be               inspiring               and               uplifting               and               a               positive               namesake               for               his               family               and               for               his               name.

So               that's               one               of               the               things               we're               really               going               to               strive               to               do.

It's               one               thing               to               be               retroactive               and               help               when               someone               goes               missing               and               it's               another               thing               to               help               build               a               positive               legacy               for               these               families               and               so               we               want               to               do               a               little               bit               of               both.
               TODD:               Hindsight               is               20/20,               but               it's               too               late               often.

So,               what's               March               10th?
               LADONNA:               March               10th?

That's               Kent               Jacobs's               missing               date,               that's               when               he               went               missing               in               2002.
               TODD:               It's               a               'Safety               Matters               Day'               in               Nebraska,               Illinois,               Iowa               and               West               Virginia.
               LADONNA:               Yes,               that's               one               of               the               reasons               we               flew               to               North               Carolina,               we               had               been               working,               behind               the               scenes,               to               have               March               10th               date               proclaimed               'Safety               Matters               Day'               all               across               the               United               States.

So,               that               was               something               we               were               able               to               present               the               family               with               proclamations               from               different               states               proclaiming               'Safety               Matters               Day'.

It               was               something               really               incredible               for               the               family               to               have.
               TODD:               So,               you               work               on               one               case               and               you               actually               take               what               you               learn               from               one               case               over               into               another               case.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely.

It's               just               a               learning               process.
               TODD:               Yeah.
               LADONNA:               We               still               have               so               much               to               learn.
               TODD:               Oh               yeah,               you               never               stop...

just               when               you               think               you               know               it               all,               everything               changes,               technology               changes               and               when               the               Internet               came               along,               I               remember               actually               having               to               drive               a               car               to               have               to               go               physically               into               a               library               to               look               at               what               I               wanted               to               look               at               and               then,               suddenly,               it's               become               just               simple.

You               know,               in               a               week,               I               can               do               what               would               have               taken               me               more               than               a               year               before.

It               all               changed               in               the               blink               of               an               eye.

Tell               me               a               little               bit               more               about               your               work               on               April's               case,               April               Beth               Pitzer.
               LADONNA:               We,               um...

her               mother               Gloria               Denton               actually               lives               here               in               Arkansas,               a               few               hours               away               from               us               and,               I               believe               that               she               was               actually               recommended               to               our               organization               through               another               prominent               organization               that               is               based               in               North               Carolina,               so               we               were               able               to               meet               with               her.

So               what               we're               doing               in               April               Beth               Pitzer's               case               is,               we               are               offering               a               reward               for               her...

for               April's               recovery               and               for               the               arrest               and               conviction               of               those               involved               in               her               disappearance.

So,               we're               working               on               flyers               this               week               and               we're               going               to               launch               the               reward               and,               then,               we're               also               working               on               a               program               called               'April's               Hope'.
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               And,               through               'April's               Hope',               we               are               working               to               raise               money               to               donate               to               Search               and               Rescue               operations               across               the               United               States,               for               different               equipment               that               is               needed.

It's               something               that               will               be               very               positive               and               a               namesake               for               April               and               it               was               something               that               we               knew               we               wanted               to               be               a               part               of.
               TODD:               And               April's               case               is               a               very               interesting               case               too.

We               did               an               interview               with               her               mother               and               we'll               link               that,               at               this               point               in               time,               in               the               transcriptions               so               that               people               can               reflect               back               on               that               because               it's               part               of               the               story.

That's               why               we               call               it               'Missing               Pieces'               because               we're               connecting               some               of               these               things               together               and               so               you               can               you               see               how               these               cases               do               overlap.
               LADONNA:               Oh,               that's               neat.

That'll               be               great               for               the               viewers.
               TODD:               And               the               San               Bernardino               County               Sheriff's               Department,               you               know,               we've               talked               to               those               guys               before,               David               Van               Norman               with               the               coroner's               office,               in               fact,               there's               a               really               great               group               of               people               out               there.

Now,               the               $25,000               reward               for               April's               case,               now               how               did               this               come               about?
               LADONNA:               Well,               the               $25,000               reward               that's               being               offered               right               now,               was               being               offered               prior               to               us               being               involved,               so               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               is               actually               coming               in               and               we're               offering               a               $50,000               reward               for               her,               so               that's               completely               separate               from               anything               that               they               had               offered               before.
               TODD:               So               if               I               had               a               tip               on               this               case,               there's               potentially               $75,000?
               LADONNA:               Yes.
               TODD:               Seventy-five-thousand               reasons               for               me               to               tell               the               truth.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely.

Absolutely               and,               you               know,               we               work               very               closely               with               the               families,               our               insurance               company               and               an               attorney               on               the               reward               verbiage.

We               want               to               be               very               careful               that               everybody               is               on               the               same               page               and               that               everybody               is               protected,               and               if               the               tip               does               come               in               and               that               it's               paid               out,               so               that               families               are               not               further               victimized.
               TODD:               So               there               are               specific               criteria               they               have               to               reach...?
               LADONNA:               Absolutely.
               TODD:               ...to               get               the               $75,000?
               LADONNA:               Absolutely.

You               know,               obviously,               we               don't...

we               want               to               just               be               very               careful               that               people               don't               wait               to               come               forward               because               there's               a               reward.
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               There               are               so               many               things               that               you               have               to               be               careful               of               when               I               comes               to               reward               verbiage               and,               obviously,               I               believe               that               rewards               often               work,               they               get               people               talking               and               so               I               think               it               is               an               important               aspect               of               any               missing               person's               case               to               pursue,               and               that's               one               of               the               things               we're               trying               to               prospect               on               our               end,               are               the               rewards               that               we               are               able               to               offer               and               that's               unique               for               such               a               fledgling               organization               to               be               able               to               do.

We               feel               very               blessed               to               be               able               to               offer               this               to               help               these               families.
               TODD:               That's               an               impressive               amount               for               the               rewards.

You               must               have               to               do               a               lot               of               sweet-talking.
               LADONNA:               We               do,               but               we're               also...

we're               covered               up               to               $500,000               by               an               insurance               policy               that               we               take               out               so               we               actually               pay               for               insurance               on               an               annual               basis               so               that               we're               completely               covered.

So               that               is               something               unique               that               a               lot               of               organizations               may               or               may               not               be               aware               that               is               a               possibility.

This               is               something               that               we               had               research               prior               to               actually               starting               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               and               we               just               really               felt               collectively,               our               board               of               directors               felt               collectively               that               it               was               something               that               we               needed               to               do.
               TODD:               It               sound               like               a               very               interesting               idea.

I               had               not               heard               of               that               before               actually,               with               the               insurance               providing               the               reward               money.
               LADONNA:               It               is.

You               know,               we               have               a               percentage               of               the               reward               at               any               given               time,               in               our               bank               account.

I               think               there               are               different               laws               from               state               to               state...

I'm               sure               there               has               to               be.

So               we               have               a               percentage               but               then               we               also               have               our               insurance,               like               I               said,               and               then               we               have               an               attorney               that               we               with               and               helps               us               so               everybody's               protected,               especially               the               families.

That's               our               main               concern.

We               don't               want               them               to               be               further               hurt,               because               if               somebody               does               come               forward               with               information               and               the               criteria               is               met               for               the               reward,               we               want               to               make               sure               that               that               is               handled               in               the               utmost               professional               manner.

So               the               information               is               given               to               law               enforcement               and               that               the               reward               is               paid               out               and               there               can               be               a               recovery,               if               there               is               a               recovery.
               TODD:               Now,               let's               talk               about               Maura               Murray.

She               disappeared               Monday,               February               9th,               2004,               7:30               p.m.,               after               a               minor               accident.

Tell               us               a               little               bit               more               about               that               case.
               LADONNA:               This               case,               um...

this               case,               I've               lost               sleep               over.

I've               lost               sleep               over               all               of               cases               but               this               one,               particularly,               is               so               puzzling,               Todd.

She               was               in               a               minor               one-car               accident...
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               ...on               Route               112,               near               Woodsville,               New               Hampshire.

A               witness               states               that               he               stopped               and               spoke               with               her               and               that               he               called               police,               and               when               they               arrived               10               minutes               later,               she               was               missing...

and               since               then,               I               mean,               her               credit               cards               haven't               been               touched,               there's               been               no               activity...

there've               been               searches...

nothing               has               been               found.

It's               really,               really               one               of               those               cases,               'what               happened               to               Maura?'               It's               almost               like               she               vanished               into               thin               air.

It's               very               frustrating               for               the               family.

It's               something               that               we               feel               very               passionate               about               being               involved               in.

It's               difficult               sometimes,               to               engage               the               media               in               a               case               like               this,               because               she               was               in               a               one-car               accident               and               I               think               everybody               has               their               own               theories.

I               guess,               probably               as               they               do               in               any               missing               person's               case,               but               it's               just               such               a               unique               thing               to               have               happen...

it               just               seems               like               there's               no               explanation               whatsoever.

But               we're               working               really               closely               with               her               family               to               offer               a               reward               and               to               launch               a               postcard               campaign               in               the               area               where               Maura               went               missing,               and               then               I'm               actually               going               to               be               flying               to               New               Hampshire               early               in               the               fall               to               the               area               where               Maura               went               missing               to               distribute               flyers               and               to               talk               to               the               locals               there               and               to               host               a               press               conference.
               TODD:               I               hope               to               have               one               of               her               family               members               as               a               guest               at               some               in               time               as               well,               but               is               there               going               to               be               a               reward?

You're               going               to               go               early               in               the               fall,               so               you've               got               something               going               on               with               it               but               can               you               talk               about               if               you're               going               to               offer               a               reward               in               this               case?
               LADONNA:               Yes,               we               are.

We               are               actually               working               on               those               details               right               now.

I've               been               working               with               Maura's               family               this               week               to...

we               have               gotten               the               reward               verbiage               from               our               attorney               and               have               given               in               on               to               theirs               and               so,               as               soon               as,               you               know,               that               can               be               signed               off               on               by               both               parties,               then               we'll               move               forward.

We               really               hope               to               move               and               shake               this               case.

I               will               say               that               the               family               has               done               a               tremendous               job,               a               lot               of               work,               and               has               just               worked               tirelessly               to               keep               Maura's               case               in               the               media.

So               what               we               want               to               do               is               not               say,               "hey,               we               can               do               it               better"               because               that's               not               what               we're               about               but               what               we               can               say               is,               "let               us               help               you,               let               us               stand               beside               you               and               let's               continue               to               push               forward."               So               that               is               really               what               we               want               to               do               but               we               want               to               make               a               splash.

We               don't               want               people               to               forget               that               Maura's               missing               and,               like               I               said,               this               is               such               a               unique               case               that               we               really               feel               compelled               that               we               need               to               actually               set               foot               in               New               Hampshire...

see               where               the               car               accident               took               place               and               get               a               better               feel               for               what               we               are               working               with.
               TODD:               And               there's               lots               more               information               about               all               3               of               these               cases:               Kent               Jacobs,               Maura               Murray               and               April               Beth               Pitzer               on               the               'Let's               Bring               Them               Home'               website               so               if               you               want               more               information               on               those               3               cases,               there's               lots               of               links,               lots               of               information.

I'm               looking               at               your               resources               page,               now,               and               you've               got               a               little               bit               of               something               in               every               state...

just               about               every               state...

there's               something               there,               some               type               of               resource               or               somebody               that               can               refer               you               to               somebody               else.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely.

You               know,               we...

that's               definitely               our               resources               link               is               definitely               a               work               in               progress...
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               We               want               to               make               sure               that...

that               we               do               2               things...

that               we               are               always               keeping               the               communication               open               with               other               organizations               that               are               already               doing               great               work               because,               you               know,               not               one               organization               can               do               it               all;               it's               got               to               be               a               team               effort.

I               think               everybody's               who               is               in               this               line               of               work,               knows               we're               all               on               the               same               team               and               we               just               want               to               help               support               these               families               and               help               bring               these               missing               people               home.

So               we               have               a               volunteer,               he's               on               our               staff,               who               actually               goes               through               different               things               on               the               Internet,               goes               through               different               resources               and               we               try               to               add               those,               you               know,               update               it               every               couple               of               weeks               as               we               come               across               some               and               just               so               we               can               be               a               clearing               house               for               resources.

In               our               state,               for               instance,               in               Arkansas,               although               we               help               families               that               have               missing               adults               and               children,               before               we               would               take               a               case               of               a               missing               child,               we               would               obviously               go               to               the               Morgan               Nick               Foundation               first               because               that's               what               they               specialize               in.
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               And               make               sure               that               they               have               the               information               if               they               don't               already               have               the               case,               and               it               they               don't               already               have               the               case,               make               sure               that               they               have               that               case               file               and               connect               that               family               with               the               Morgan               Nick               Foundation.

So,               we're               always               providing               the               best               possible               resources               for               that               family.
               TODD:               And               your               team...

your               board               of               directors,               of               course,               you're               LaDonna,               you're               the               PR               consultant.

You               have               Misty               Meredith,               the               president;               can               you               tell               us               a               little               bit               more               about               her?
               LADONNA:               Yes.

She,               ironically,               has               the               same               last               name               because               she               is               my               sister-in-law               and               was               very               much               inspired               by               the               work               that               I               had               done               over               the               years               and               wanted               to               get               involved.

She's               been               a               huge               asset               to               our               team.

She               brings...

she's               responsible               for               the               sponsorship               side               of               things...

she               actually               helps               us               raise               the               money               that               we               need               to               make               our               programs               work.

Our               main               case               consultant               is               Lanette               Lopez               and               she               has               been               with               us               from               the               beginning.

I've               known               Lanette               for               about               15               years               and               she               is               phenomenal               with               these               families...

just               phenomenal.

We               have               an               advisory               board,               which               is               Angie               Baker               and               Mari               See,               who               is               not               actually               listed               on               here               yet.

Amy               Smith               is               on               our               advisory               board               and               she               is               also               our               McGruff               Safe               Kids               partner;               so               she's               the               prevention               aspect               of               what               we               do.

She               goes               into               the               public               schools               and               she               teaches               the               curriculum               that               helps               keep               children               safe               so               that's               sort               of               the               prevention               end               of               it.

And               then               we               have               3               other               board               members               and               I               don't               think               that               Spencer               Brandkamp               is               listed               but               he               is               new               to               our               board               of               directors               and               he               just               brings               a               wealth               of               information               to               what               we               do.

He               helps               us               to               design               all               of               our               posters               and               different               things               that               we               offer               the               families,               postcards               and               any               design               work               that               we               have.

Other               people               who               are               members               are               Milton               Lamar               and               Mary               Moebius.

You               know,               just               great               people               who               have               a               heart               for               this               particular               cause               and               this               mission               and               I               think               that's               what               we               need.
               TODD:               So,               we've               got               you               in               trouble               now               with               your               board               of               directors               who               are               not               listed               yet,               so               that's               on               your               to-do               list               now...

(Laughter)
               LADONNA:               It               is.

I'm               going               to               be               doing               it               what               I               get               home.
               TODD:               You'll               get               that               updated,               you               know,               and               you've               just               got               3               cases               listed               on               your               site               but               I've               got               a               feeling,               you've               got               more               on               the               way.
               LADONNA:               We               do.

We               do.

We've               actually...

one               of               the               reasons               that               we               haven't               just               jumped               in               really               gung-ho...
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               ...and               taken               on               a               bunch               of               cases               is               because,               right               now,               we               know               that               our               resources               are               limited...
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               ...and               we               are               to               the               point               where               we               could               add               more               cases...

you               know,               we               would               never               tell               a               family               "no",               so               I               do               want               to               clarify               that,               but               we...

it               was               a               slower               process               in               some               of               these               things,               as               far               as               forming               our               organization,               than               what               we               had               anticipated.

We               wanted               to               make               sure               that               it               was               all               done               correctly               because,               at               the               end               of               the               day,               our               job               is               to               protect               these               families               from               further               victimization.
               TODD:               Well,               and               there's               different               ways               to               approach               this,               with               a               lot               of               organizations,               like               the               Doe               Network,               we               try               to               paint               with               a               broad               brush,               you               know,               because               we're               trying               to               just               touch               as               many               people               as               possible               and               it's               also               important               to               touch               cases               with               a               detailed               brush               and               I               think               that's               what               you're               doing...

you're               trying               to               go               in               with               more               of               a               detailed               approach               and               spend               more               time               on               each               particular               case               and               both               ways               to               approach               this               are               very               important.
               LADONNA:               Oh,               I               think               you're               exactly               right.

I               think               that               those               types               of               things               compliment               each               other               and               that's               what               the               world               needs               and               that's...

you               know,               we               want               to               be               very               slow               and               methodical               about               this               process.

You               know,               we               have               a               lot               of               projects               that               we               are               taking               on               and               none               of               my               staff               is               paid...
               TODD:               So               you               have               100%               volunteer               staff               at               this               point               in               time?
               LADONNA:               Four               staff               members...
               TODD:               No,               100%               volunteer...

so               no               one's               getting               paid               anything?
               LADONNA:               Yes,               nobody               is               getting               paid               anything,               so               every               bit               of               money               that               we               raise,               right               now,               100%               of               that               money               goes               right               back               into               the               families,               right               back               into               the               organizations               that               serve               these               families               and               to               us,               right               now,               that's               the               most               important               thing.

I've               been               blessed               with               a               phenomenal               staff;               this               is               their               passion               and,               you               know,               a               lot               of               times               their               dedicating               30,               40,               50,               60               hours               a               week               of               their               time.
               TODD:               Oh,               and               that's               easy               to               do.

There's               times               when               you're               sitting               there               working               and               you               think...

you're               trying               to               look               for               a               cut-off               point               just               so               you               can               go               to               bed               and               then               just               and               get               up               and               sometimes               there's               stuff...

you               take               it               to               bed               with               you.

You               can't               go               to               sleep               because               you               keep               working               on               it               in               your               mind;               it's               not               an               easy               job,               no               matter               what               people               think,               it's               not               easy.

Just               because               you're               not               out               in               the               field               looking,               there's               a               lot               of               things               people               do               in               their               homes               and               it's               just               hard               to               get               off               your               mind               at               times.
               LADONNA:               Well,               it               is.

For               example,               I               needed               a               break...

I'd               been               working               12               to               14               hour               days               and               was               invited               to               go               to               a               concert               here,               locally,               and               I               went               and               while               we               were               there,               an               organization               was               allowed               to               bring               in               their               special-needs               adults...
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               ...to               hear               the               concert               and               I               honestly               couldn't               get               Kent               Jacobs               off               my               mind.

So,               it               goes               with               you               wherever               you               at,               you               know...

a               day               off               doesn't               necessarily               mean               a               day               off,               it               just               means...

for               me,               I'm               just               constantly               thinking,               what               can               I               do,               how               could               I               do               this               better               for               these               families...

you               know,               what               could               I               offer               to               continue               to               help               make               a               difference.
               TODD:               Like               I               say,               you're               looking               at               things,               like               market               input               tools,               and               you               think,               "Now               how               can               I               adapt               this               to               serve               this               purpose?

How               can               I               make               this               help               in               this               case?"               You               see               other               organizations,               completely               different               organizations               at               times,               you               know,               working               on               cancer               treatment               and               a               lot               of               different               types               of               causes               and               you               see               how               they               do               things               and               how               they               organize               themselves               and               you               can               learn               from               it.

There's               a               lot               to               learn               from               it.
               LADONNA:               Absolutely               and,               you               know,               we               have               some               great               connections               with               organizations,               such               as               yours,               who               have               just               been               great               to               lend               a               listening               ear               to               us               and               to               help               guide               us               and               to               provide               us               with               information               or               with               tools               that               we               might               not               have               had               on               our               own,               and               it's               been               a               great               benefit               and,               you               know,               we               never               think               that               we               have               the               answer.

We               know               that               there's               always               more               to               learn               and               that's               what               we               spend               a               good               portion               of               our               time               doing,               is               continuing               to               educate               ourselves               and               to               learn               in               the               process               and               to               learn               how               we               can               better               serve               these               families.
               TODD:               And               how               to               work               with               other               organizations               is               a               very               key               thing               because               often               they're               doing               that               just               fits               right               into               what               you're               doing.

We               do               have               a               links               page               on               missingpieces.info               and               you               are               more               than               welcome               to               use               anything               there               that               you               want.

We've               done               a               lot               of               research               and               it               took               a               long               time               to               get               that               page               built               and               anything               that               you               need,               use               it,               you               know               I               hope               you               feel               free               to               do               that.
               LADONNA:               Well,               thank               you,               I               will.

That,               in               and               of               itself,               is               helpful.

Right               now,               we've               been               blessed,               you               know,               we're               newer,               so               lots               of               people               has               been               visiting               our               website               and               using               that               resources               page,               so               I               appreciate               that               because               that's               really               going               to               better               serve               the               families               and               I               think               that's               what               we're               all               about.
               TODD:               I               always               take               time               to               take               advantage               of               something               that               somebody               has               already               done               and               got               completed               and               is               willing               to               share               it.

You               know,               because               that's               what               I've               tried               to               do,               I've               spent...

I've               dedicated               my               own               time,               very               crudely               I               might               add,               at               the               point               in               time               that               I               was               trying               to               look               for               the               tent               girl               and               the               things               that               I               learned               during               that               10               years,               I               think               I               can               help               somebody               shave               that               much               time               off               their               search.

It               might               not               take               them               completely               through               the               end               of               their               journey,               but               there               are               things               that               I               can               tell               them,               "well,               this               worked               for               me               but               it               might               not               work               for               you."               You               know,               just               bring               up               a               lot               of               things               that               they               won't               have               to               struggle               with               and               hopefully               you               can               present               opportunities               to               them.

Now,               what               have               you               got               in               mind               for               this               summer?

I               think               you've               got               some               events               planned               for               the               summer               time.
               LADONNA:               I               do.

We               have               several               different               things;               we               will               be               back               in               North               Carolina...
               TODD:               uh               huh
               LADONNA:               ...

working               on               Kent's               case,               obviously,               the               reward               will               be               up               in               June               and               we're               going               to               have               a               presence               in               June.

We               are               working               on               Safety               Matters               all               summer               long               so               it               can               be               implemented               in               the               fall               in               classrooms               in               North               Carolina,               special-needs               classrooms,               so               that's               a               huge               endeavor.

We've               been               invited               to               meet               our               governor's               office               here               and               to               form               a               task               force               for               the               Safety               Matters               project               and               for               a               bill               that               we               would               like               to               see               be               passed               in               2               years.

It's               something               will               be               an               alert               system               for               cognitively               impaired               individuals,               and               that               could               mean               special-needs,               that               could               mean               Alzheimer's,               so               we're               really               working               hard               to               get               that               team               of               people               together               this               summer               to               make               that               happen.

You               know,               it's               a               2-year               project;               it's               going               to               be               a               lot               of               hard               work               but               we               think               it's               really               important               and               I               believe               it               can               save               lives.
               TODD:               Well,               I               don't               think               you               really               specialize               but               it               seems               that               you've               done               a               lot               of               work               for               the               special-needs               people,               I               know               that               you               don't               limit               it               to               the               special-need               people,               but               I               know               that               you               really               have               a               special               interest               in               it               and               I've               not               seen               that               happen               before.

So,               this               is               really               good               to               see               that               happen.

I               think               you're               hitting               a               spot               that               needs               a               little               work.
               LADONNA:               And               I               agree.

You               know,               all               of               our               cases               are               so               personal               for               us               and,               as               you               know,               you               know               that               exactly.

I               can't               explain               it,               as               far               as               the               connection               that               I               have               with               the               Jacobs               family...

I               feel               like,               it's               almost               like               I               knew               Kent.
               TODD:               I               know               exactly               what               you               mean.
               LADONNA:               I'm               passionate               about               helping               build               a               program,               even               just               a               small...

even               though               I               know               that               I'm               just               the               little               bitty               tiny               piece               of               the               puzzle,               for               a               program               that               could               make               a               difference               in               the               lives               of               special-needs               adults               and               children.

That               isn't               all               that               we               specialize               in               but               it's               really               important               to               us               that               we               see               that               through.

The               other               big               project               that               we're               working               on               is               'The               Perception               Project',               like               we               mentioned               early               with               'Outpost               for               Hope',               the               multimedia               contacts               with               a               mission               and               we're               really               hoping               to               raise               awareness               about               an               invisible               population               of               lost               children...

that               program               is               called               'Kids               Off               The               Grid'               and               so,               we're               going               to               be               working               on               that               all               summer               long...

so               we're               really               excited               about               that.
               TODD:               You               know               I               think               Libba               (Phillips)               is               a               really               good               family               liaison               type               of               person               because,               you               know,               with               her               sister               Ashley               and               the               situation               she's               had               there...

when               you               refer               Libba               to               somebody               and               she               can               say,               "I               understand               what               you're               going               through"               and               mean               it...

really,               really               clearly.

She               understands               exactly               what               you're               going               through.

It's               easy               to               say,               "I               understand"               when               you               try               to               comfort               somebody               but               to               actually               really               know               and               she               went               through               some               amazing               processes               trying               to               work               on               her               sister's               case.

I've               listened               to               a               lot               of               it               with               her               and               she's               truly               a               dedicated               human               being.
               LADONNA:               Yeah,               she's               incredible,               and               I               was               so               excited               to               meet               with               her.

She               feels               that               same               way               about               you               too,               Todd.

I               mean,               you've               both               just               been               really               great,               just               a               plethora               of               knowledge               and               support               and...
               TODD:               We               get               to               make               these               incredible               friendships               because               I've               met               people,               maybe               not               face               to               face,               but               you               really               get               these               really               deep               friendships               and               you               really               learn               to               love               and               care               for               these               people               and,               in               fact,               the               cases               too.

I               always               say               that               I               don't               want               to               get               that               close               again               to               where               it               hurts               like               that               but               that's               easier               said               than               done               when               you're               getting               close               to               the               families               of               the               missing               and               you               begin               to               work               with               them               more               and               more               and               more               and               you               become               so               involved,               like               you               said,               it's               just               like               you               knew               that               person.
               LADONNA:               Right.
               TODD:               And,               you               know,               you               hurt               with               the               family.
               LADONNA:               Oh,               absolutely.

I               mean,               absolutely...

that's               just               absolutely               the               truth               and               you               know,               this               is               not               an               easy               line               of               work,               by               any               means,               but               it               is               something               that               I               am               sure               that               I'm               supposed               to               spend               the               rest               of               my               life               pursuing               and               I               intend               to               do               that               and,               it's               like               I               tell               everybody               else,               if               we               can               make               a               difference,               a               small               difference               in               the               life               of               one               family,               then               I               feel               like               I've               done               my               job,               and,               you               know,               God               willing,               we'll               make               a               difference               for               a               lot               of               families               and               a               lot               of               the               organizations               that               we               collaborate               with.

We               just               really               want               to               be               on               the               forefront               of               building               these               collaborations               and               being               involved               and               staying               involved.
               TODD:               Tell               me               now,               if               I               had               a               case...

okay,               if               I               have               a               missing               person               in               my               family               and               I've               called               your               800-number,               what               would               be               step               #1?
               LADONNA:               Well,               the               800-number...
               TODD:               There's               some               type               of               intake,               I'm               sure.
               LADONNA:               Right.

The               800-number               that               we               have               right               now               is               free,               no-cost               tip               line               and               it's               not               answered               by               a               live               person.
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               Obviously,               we               do               have               people               that               leave               messages               on               that               line,               and               we               call               back               and               then               we               offer               the               other               number               on               our               website               that               people               can               call,               that               leads               to               my               office               directly.

And               so,               the               first               thing               that               we               do               is               that,               we               have               what               is               called               an               intake               form,               I'm               sure               that               you're               really               familiar               with               it...
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               ...and               we               just               take               the               basic               information               and               we               talk               to               the               family               for               an               extended               amount               of               time...

and               then               we               immediately,               you               know,               there's               some               things               that               we               do               and               in               the               age               of               the               Internet,               we're               able               to               do               a               lot               of               the               research               that               we               need,               right               there               on               the               Internet.

We               almost               always               immediately               connect               with               law               enforcement               that's               involved               with               the               case               and               any               other               organization               that               is               serving               the               family.
               TODD:               And               that's               not               always               easy               to               do,               is               connect               with               law               enforcement.

You               know,               they're...

sometimes               they're               so               overwhelmed...

sometimes               it's               difficult.
               LADONNA:               It's               true.

It's               difficult               and,               you               know,               today               we've               been               very               unusually               blessed               with               the               cases               that               we               have,               that               we've               been               able               to               connect               fairly               quickly               and               regularly               with               law               enforcement...

simply               because               some               of               the               things               that               we               do               have               to               be               cleared               with               law               enforcement.
               TODD:               (agrees)
               LADONNA:               The               rewards,               for               example.

You               know,               we               never               want               to               do               anything               that               could               jeopardize               a               case,               obviously,               and               so               we               spend               some               time               just               educating               ourselves               about               the               case               and               about               the               family.

The               next               step               is               that               we               find               out               exactly               what               the               family               feels               like               they               need               from               us               and               a               lot               of               times,               honestly,               they               don't               know...

they               just               want               help,               and               then               we               are               able               to               sit               down               as               a               group               with               the               staff               and               strategically               plan               what               we               can               offer               to               the               case.

Sometimes,               we're               going               to               find               that               it               is               just               PR               support,               helping               them               send               out               that               press               release...
               TODD:               And               that's               probably               very               hard               for               that               person               to               do,               especially               when               that's               their               first               introduction               to               this               world,               is               their               own               particular               case...

because               sometimes               people               just               don't               pay               attention               to               this               cause,               not               unless               or               until               they               are               involved               in               it.
               LADONNA:               You're               exactly               right.

So,               sometimes               it               may               just               be               as               simple               as               helping               them               write               a               very               clean,               powerful               press               release;               getting               their               information               on               the               Internet;               doing               some               research               for               them;               generating               what               we               can               for               them               media-wise.

One               of               the               things               that               we               offer,               we               really               encourage               families               to               take               advantage               of,               is               availing               our               PR               professionals               to               step               in               and               be               a               liaison               for               the               family               with               the               media.

And               sometimes,               we               have               found,               especially               like               in               the               case               of               Kent               Jacobs,               that               that               is,               in               and               of               itself,               media-worthy.

It               opens               up               a               whole               new               door               of               getting               that               picture               and               that               story               back               into               the               newspaper,               and               so               that's               really               what               we               focus               on,               and               then,               if               it's               appropriate,               we               work               with               the               family               on               a               reward...
               TODD:               mm               huh
               LADONNA:               ...and,               if               it's               appropriate,               we               connect               them               with               the               right               resources               beyond               what               we               can               do.

We're               never               afraid               to               say,               "hey,               we               can't               do               that               but               we'll               help               you               find               somebody               who               can."               We're               never               afraid               to               say               that               because,               obviously,               there               are               some               things               that               we               are               limited,               resource-wise               or               knowledge-wise,               and               so               we're               the               first               to               say,               "hey,               we               building               this               resource               list               and               we're               building               these               relationships,               let               me               connect               you               with               Todd               Matthews"               or               "let               me               connect               you               with               Libba               Phillips."               So,               that's               key,               if               the               family               knows               that               we're               building               relationships               that               are               going               to               benefit               them.
               TODD:               Well,               there's               definitely               a               network               forming,               even               more               so               now               than               ever               before.

Some               families               are               able               to               go               out               there               and               represent               their               own               cases;               they               become               their               own               spokesman,               Libba,               for               example,               she's               a               prime               example               of               that,               you               know.

She               has               become               the               person               that               she               needed...

that               she               herself               needed...

she's               become               that               person.

She               learned               how               to               do               that               and               she               had               to...

she               had               to               do               that,               but               sometimes               the               families               are               just               not               ready               yet               and               I               think               that               would               be               me,               in               particular,               as               much               as               I've               worked               in               this               field,               when               it               comes               home...

all               the               way               home               to               your               own               house...
               LADONNA:               Right.
               TODD:               You               know,               I               don't               know               if               I               would               be               able               to               be               the               person               to               be               able               to               do               what               I               do               now               and               stand               up               and               actually               deal               with               the               media.

I               don't               know               if               I               could,               and               it's               nice               to               know               that               you               would               have               people               that               can               do               that               for               you.
               LADONNA:               Right.

Then               we'll               fly               to               where               they're               at.

You               know,               we               will               drop               everything               and               there               is               no               charge               for               what               we               do               for               the               families.

I               mean,               I               want               to               make               that               clear.

Everything               we               do...

there               is               no               cost               involved               for               the               family               so,               if               that               means               that               we               need               to               fly               to               South               Dakota               to               host               a               press               conference               for               a               family,               then               that's               absolutely               what               we'll               do.

And               then,               you               know,               we               work               really               closely               with               media               outlets               all               across               the               United               States...

we're               working               with               PR               and               marketing               firms               and               law               enforcement               and               different               non-profits,               to               be               able               to               offer               the               best               media               liaison               service               that               we               can               offer.
               TODD:               And               thank               God               for               email.
               LADONNA:               Oh...

I               don't               know               what               I               would               do               without               it.

I               mean,               it's               really               changed               the               face               of               how               you               can               handle               public               relations...

I               mean,               in               an               instant,               in               a               matter               of               15               seconds,               I               can               contact               media               outlets               all               across               the               nation               with               key               information.

It's               just               a               fabulous               tool.
               TODD:               You               know,               literally               everyday,               I               speak               to               somebody               on               every               continent               but               Antarctica.

That               literally               happens               on               a               daily               basis               and               you               know,               it's               just               like               a               dream               and               when               you're               trying               to               use               it               as               a               tool               for               the               particular               cause,               you               know,               it's               even               more               amazing.

Because               you're               actually               doing               more               than               just               chatting               with               somebody,               you're               actually               sharing               ideas               and               thoughts               with               the               entire               globe.

It's               an               amazing               time               we               live               in.
               LADONNA:               It's               amazing               and               I               feel               very               blessed               to               be               a               part               of               something.

Because               what               we               want               to               do               is               take               that               truth               of               being               able               to               harness               the               power               of               the               Internet,               harness               the               power               of               the               technology               in               2007               and               use               that               to               benefit               these               families               who               have               missing               loved               ones.

We               want               to               be               that               resource.

We               want               to               be               the               persons               that               can               help               them               do               that               and               do               it               quickly               and               do               it               well               and               be               able               to               send               them               to               the               other               appropriate               organizations               that               can               also               help               collaborate,               you               know,               to               do               what               they               do               well.

You               know,               Monica               Caison               and               the               CUE               Center               [Community               United               Effort               (CUE)               Center               for               Missing               Persons]               comes               to               mind,               you               know,               they               do...
               TODD:               (acknowledges)
               LADONNA:               ...they               do               so               many               things               so               well               with               Search               and               Rescue               and               it               goes               on               and               on               and               on.

That's               something               that               we're               not               capable               of               doing,               you               know,               so               there               are               those               relationships               that               we're               building               and               we're               going               to               continue               to               build               to               benefit               these               families,               because               that,               at               the               end               of               the               day,               Todd,               is               what               is               going               to               make               a               difference.
               TODD:               Absolutely,               and               I               have               a               feeling               our               paths               will               probably               cross               this               year.

I'm               pretty               confident               of               that...

I've               got               a               busy               year               planned               too,               so               I               have               a               feeling               that               we               might               cross               paths               at               some               point               and               time               this               year.
               LADONNA:               Well,               that's               exciting,               and               I               would               be               honored.
               TODD:               Well,               I've               been               quieter               than               normal               on               this               show               because               usually               we're               dealing               with               family               members               and               you               find               yourself               having               to               do               a               lot               of               talking               to               help               lead               them               along               but               I've               been               trying               to               be               quiet               this               time               and               to               let               you               do               a               lot               of               the               talking               and               to               just               let               you               get               your               information               out               there               so               I               got               a               chance               to               rest               this               week,               so               that's               good.

And               it's               been               really               a               pleasure               talking               to               you.

You'll               have               a               permanent               archive               on               missingpieces.info.

It'll               be               there.

It'll               be               transcribed               eventually               and               hopefully               it               will               guide               more               people               to               your               website               so               that               people               can               contact               you.

There's               a               lot               of               traffic               that               comes               this               way               and               I               think               you'll               find               a               few               surprising               relationships               you               might               form               here.
               LADONNA:               Well,               I               thank               you               so               much.

This               is               a               tremendous               opportunity               and               I'm               very               honored               to               have               been               a               part               of               it.
               TODD:               Well,               it's               been               great               having               you.
               LADONNA:               Thank               you.
               TODD:               Okay,               well,               I'm               going               to               tell               everybody               goodnight               and               we'll               talk               to               you               again               next               week.

Goodnight               LaDonna.
               LADONNA:               Goodnight.

Thank               you.
               TODD:               Thank               you.

Bye               bye.






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